Apparatus for automatically centering moving objects



Nov. 24, 1953 T. 1.0m@ 2,660,429

APPARATUS F' OR AUTOx ATICALLY CENTERING MOVING OBJECTS Filed Juhe 4,1951 Patented Nov. 24, 195.3

, APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATICALLY CENTERING MOVING OBJECTS Edwin T. Lorig,Pittsburgh, Pa., assignor to United States Steel Corporation, acorporation of New Jersey Application June 4, 1951, Serial No. 229,723

9 Claims. (C1. 271-26) This invention relates to apparatus forautomatically centering la moving object such as a strip and is acontinuation-impart of my copending application, Serial No. 145,648, ledFebruary 23, 1950, now Patent No. 2,593,158, The apparatus disclosed insaid patent has proved to be entirely satisfactory for most purposes,but there are certain applications where centering action faster thanthat obtained by that apparatus is required.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide apparatus forautomatically and rapidly centering a moving object.

This and other objects will be more apparent after referring to thefollowing specification and attached drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a sectional view of one embodiment of my invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1, but showing a loadbeing applied to the device;

Figures 3 and 4 are fragmentary views showing slight modifications of mydevice; and

Figure 5 is a sectional view, similar to Figure 1 showing a furtherembodiment of my invention.

Referring more particularly to the drawings the reference numeral 2indicates a rotatable 'shaft mounted in bearings 4. The shaft 2 may beeither idle or driven, in which latter case an extension 6 is providedat one end for connection to a driving mechanism (not-shown). A pair ofopposed frusto-conical rolls 8 are mounted on the shaft with their largediameter ends adjacent each other. Each of the rolls 8 consists of atube IIJ surrounding the shaft 2 and fastened thereto adjacent thebearing 4 by means of an end ring I2. The internal diameter of the tubeI8 is greater than the outside diameter of the shaft 2 so that itsunsupported end is free to deflect under load. A thin end web I4 isfastened to the tube I0 adjacent its outer or supported end and asimilar web I6 fastened to the tube I0 adjacent its inner or free end. Afrusto-conical rim portion I8 is fastened to the spaced apart Webs I4and I6. The web I6 may be positioned on the tube Ill at any pointbetween the position shown and the web I4. While both webs are shownfastened to both the tube I0 and rim portion I8, part of theseconnections may be omitted, it only being necessary that the rim portionI8 be Vcentered on the tube I0 and rotate therewith. When pressure isapplied to the surface of the rolls 8 by means of a strip S the rotatingrims I8 and tubes I0 move inwardly toward the shaft 2 at the line orsurface of contact and outwardly at a point diametrically opposite asshown in Figure 2. The

strip S may have either line contact with the rims I8 or be wrappedaround an arc thereof. As long as the strip S is centered on the rolls 8and the bearing pressure of the strip on the rolls is uniform over itsfull width, no lateral movement of the strip will occur as it passesover the roll. If the strip is off-center or the strip contact isnonuniform from side to side, the forces exerted by the roll having thegreatest contact with the strip S will cause the strip to move rapidlyinto a centered position on the rolls.

A slight modification of my device is shown in Figure 3 in which atongue and groove construction 2li is provided at the center of the rimsI8 in order to cause both rims to deiiect in unison.

Figure 4 shows another slight embodiment of my invention in which arubber or neoprene gasket 22 is provided between the centerfwebs I5 toseal the assembly and prevent infiltration of injurious materials intothe interior thereof.

Figure 5 shows another embodiment of my invention in which thefrusto-conical rim portion I8 is omitted. In this embodiment a pluralityof spaced apart webs 2E are fastened to each of the tubes I0 with thefrusto-conical rims of each of the rolls being provided by the outersurface of the webs. The operation of this embodiment is the same asthat of Figure l.

While several embodiments of my invention have been shown and describedit will be apparent that other adaptations and modifications may be madewithout departing from the scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object comprising arotatable shaft, a pair of axially opposed rolls mounted on said shaftsubstantially coaxial therewith, each of said rolls including a tubesurrounding ysaid shaft, theinternal diameter of said tube beingsubstantially greater than the outside diameter of said shaft, the outerend of `said tube being fastened to said shaft coaxially therewith andits inner end being unsupported and the tube being free to deiect underload in a direction transverse to its axis about its shaft attached endas a pivot, a plurality of spaced apart webs surrounding said tube forrotation therewith, a rim portion carried by said Webs substantiallycoaxial with said shaft, the first of said 4webs being adjacent theouter end of said rim portion and the second of said webs being betweenthe first web and the inner end of the rim portions.

2. Apparatus for automatically centering a moving object comprising arotatable shaft, a

